In-line crimping device for rigid foil containers

ABSTRACT

An in-line crimping device for rigid foil containers, such as pie pans, includes a longitudinal conveyor. Oppositely disposed container drive belts are disposed along the conveyor and are engaged by the peripheral portions of the containers. The belts cooperate so that the containers rotate as they move continuously down the line. During this travel, their upwardly extending crimping flanges are engaged by one or more angularly disposed crimping members which apply radially inward angular pressure progressively to the flanges to bend the latter toward final position. This engagement by the crimping members is continuous throughout at least one complete revolution of the pan to assure full crimping action on the entire pan circumference. When a crimping member is used on only one side of the pan, means are provided to prevent flip-up of the opposite pan side. Several stages of crimping may be included in the machine, and the final crimp may be accomplished by a vertically movable eccentrically driven crimping member.

United States Patent [1 1 Huth et al.

[451 Sept. 17, 1974 1 IN-LINE CRIMPING DEVICE FOR RIGID FOIL CONTAINERS [75] Inventors: R. Carl I-Iuth, Milwaukee; William McCoy, Brookfield, both of Wis.

[73] Assignee: Robert A. Johnston Company, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis.

[22] Filed: July 12, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 270,938

3,369,342 2/1968 Tessitore..

3,429,102 2/1969 Heffner 3,435,588 4/1969 Johnson, Jr. et al....

3,730,118 5/1973 Del-Frate 113/30 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,073,763 6/1967 Great Britain 53/333 Primary ExaminerRichard J. Herbst Attorney, Agent, or FirmAndrus, Sceales, Starke & Sawall [5 7] ABSTRACT An in-line crimping device for rigid foil containers, such as pie pans, includes a longitudinal conveyor. Oppositely disposed container drive belts are disposed along the conveyor and are engaged by the peripheral portions of the containers. The belts cooperate so that the containers rotate as they move continuously down the line. During this travel, their upwardly extending crimping flanges are engaged by one or more angularly disposed crimping members which apply radially inward angular pressure progressively to the flanges to bend the latter toward final position. This engagement by the crimping members is continuous throughout at least one complete revolution of the pan to assure full crimping action on the entire pan circumference.

When a crimping member is used on only one side of the pan, means are provided to prevent flip-up of the opposite pan side.

Several stages of crimping may be included in the machine, and the final crimp may be accomplished by a vertically movable eccentrically driven crimping member.

17 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PAIENIEB SE? x 11924 SHEET 2 OF 4 IN-LINE CRIMPING DEVICE FOR RIGID FOIL CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an in-line crimping device for rigid foil containers. Such containers are wellknown today and are normally made from drawn foil, usually aluminum, which has many convolutions therein tolend rigidity to the foil. Thesecontainers are utilized for storage, shipmentand display of many types of items such as foodstuffs, hardware, etc.

In many instances, and for the purpose of sealing the contents to prevent spoilage, spillage and the like, a cover or lid is placed on the container and a rim-like crimping flange is bent down to hold the lid in place.

Prior machines for crimping rigid foil container edges have utilized an intermittent type operation wherein the container was stopped at one or more separate stations in the line and vertical tamping forces were applied to the crimping fringe to seal the lid. Such intermittent systems require careful spacing of the containers as they enter the machine, capturing and holding the containers at fixed locations, raising the containers or lowering a tamping device to provide the crimping action, and then quickly accelerating the containers toward the next station.

Certain other prior crimping devices have attempted to convert the intermittent action to a continuous motion by utilizing traveling upper and lower crimping dies which grasp the containers as they move along the line. This method generally requires that die alignment must be extremely precise to obtain acceptably uniform results.

It has been found that both types of prior devices present numerous problems. First of all, the containers must enter the line with their crimping flanges in precise uniform vertical position. Otherwise, the vertical type crimping operation will sometimes cause the flanges to bend outwardly instead of inwardly. Secondly, with a 9 inch round rigid foil container, the line output has been limited to about -65 crimped containers per minute with the intermittent device, and to under about 100 per minute with the traveling die device. Even with these relatively slow thru-put speeds, the containers are subject to substantial vibrations and jarring, due to the intermittent movement, die actions and the like. Attempts to speed up these prior types of lines have only compounded the problem.

The rigid foil containers under consideration here are often used to store items which are fragile to at least some degree. For example, such containers may be used as pie pans which, when they come into the lid crimping line, contain a fresh whole pie or possibly a graham cracker pie crust of the type disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,190,758 issued to Theodore F. l-Iauf on June 22, 1965 and entitled Forming and Packaging of Pie Crust. In the latter case, the crust is formed of a layer of dry non-sticky flowable material which conforms to the pan configuration at the time the lid is applied and before crimping. It has been found that, with the abovedescribed prior crimping devices, the crust would tend to break apart and separate under the lid, due to the various forces incident on the pan.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and provides an in-line crimping concept wherein a plurality of rigid foil containers may be randomly fed to the machine, are moved continuously along a longitudinal path, and are subject to substantially no shock forces. Furthermore, the line output can be raised to substantially over per minute for a 0 round 9 inch pan.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the use of oppositely disposed container drive members disposed along a longitudinal bed-plate, said members being positioned to be engaged by the container side walls or edge portions and cooperating in a manner so that the containers are rotatably driven as they move continuously down the line. As the containers revolvably travel along the bed-plate, their upwardly extending crimping flanges are engaged by one or more angularly disposed crimping members which apply radially inward angular pressure progressively to the flanges to bend the latter toward final position. This engagement by the crimping members is continuous throughout at least one complete revolution of the pan to assure full crimping action on the entire pan circumference.

When a crimping member is used on only one side of the pan, means are provided to prevent flip-up of the opposite pan side.

Several stages of crimping may be included in the machine, and the final crimp may be accomplished by a vertically movable eccentrically driven crimping member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated by the inventors for carrying out the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of rigid foil container adapted to be processed by the machine of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 and showing the container having a pie crust disposed therein and a lid, with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view of a two-stage crimping device constructed in accordance with the invention and adapted to process the filled and covered container of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse section taken on line 55 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken on line 66 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a transverse section taken on line 77 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing a crimping means utilizing a progressively increasing crimp action;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 and showing a filled covered container with a different edge configuration;

FIG. 10 is a perspective schematic view of a threestage crimping device constructed to handle the container of FIG. 9; and

FIG. 1 1 is a fragmentary section taken on line 1 11 1 of FIG. 10.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The device of the invention is primarily adapted to crimp the edge flanges of a circular foil container to seal the lid thereon and protect the contents thereof. The containers may be of numerous designs and manufactured for many purposes.

One form of such container is shown in FIG. 1 as a shallow pie pan 1 which includes a flat bottom 2 which merges into an outwardly tapered annular side wall 3 which in turn merges into an annular flat rim 4. The peripheral portion of pan 1 terminates in a vertically disposed annular crimping flange which extends around the outer edge of rim 4 and in this instance is perpendicular thereto.

As shown in FIG. 2, pan 1 is adapted to contain a layer of pie crust 6, as disclosed in aforementioned US. I

Pat. No. 3,190,758, and a circular formed lid 7 which extends to closely adjacent crimping flange 5.

The concept of the invention provides a means for crimping flange 5 inwardly and downwardly onto lid 7 to substantially seal the pan contants, and without the shaking and/or sudden acceleration and deceleration forces inherent in prior machines.

In accordance with the invention, an in-line crimper is provided which accepts randomly spaced and drive their edges so they revolve abut their central vertical axes as they pass longitudinally through the device. Progressive crimping is performed simultaneous with pan rotation.

For this purpose, and as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-7, the crimping device is of the two stage type and includes a frame 8 having an elongated horizontal bed-plate 9 thereon, forming a longitudinal path for the containers. The first stage portion 10 is adapted to bend the crimping flange 5 radially inwardly at least partially from the vertical, such as to an inclination of.

about 40, while the second stage portion 11 is adapted to apply the final crimp so that flange 5 sealingly engages lid 7.

The entrance to first stage 10 may be at the discharge end of a suitable pan conveyor 12, or th pans may be manually fed into the device. In any event, stage 10 includes means engageable with the sides of the pans to move them longitudinally along bed-plate 10 while simultaneously and gently imparting a continuous rotary motion to the pans. For this purpose, and in the embodiment shown, a pair of longitudinal endless flexible drive belts 13, 14 border bed-plate 9 and are in general parallelism therewith. Belts 13 and 14 are preferably made of heavy rubber-like material having high friction characteristics; with their upper surfaces disposed above the plane of bed-plate 9 for supporting opposed portions of rims 4 of the pin pans. Pan bottoms 2 will normally skim along bed-plate 9.

Belts 13 and/or 14 are adapted to be driven along bed-plate 9 and form a double transport system for moving pans 1 from the entrance to the discharge end of the machine. For this purpose, a motor 15 is mounted on frame 8 and is connected through a dirve shaft 16, reversible adjustable speed gearing units 17, 18, suitable belts and the like, to sprockets 19, for

the belts.

In accordance with the invention, belts 13 and 14 do not move along bed-plate 9 at the same relative speed, thus causing pans 1 to rotate on their axes as they randomly progress down the line. As shown in FIG. 3, rear belt 13 moves faster downstream than front belt 14, thus producing clockwise pan rotation. The speed of pan rotation will depend on the relative motion between the belts. The drive of front belt 14 could be stopped altogether or reversed, thereby increasing the speed of pan rotation. In the latter case, the speed of the downstream moving belt must be different than the speed of the upstream moving belt. In all instances, the combination of belt speeds must be such as to cause the rotating pie pans to progress through the unit.

First stage 10 also includes mearfs to progressively crimp the crimping flange of each pan. For this purpose, and as shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 3-7, a

pair of spaced large sheaves 21, 22 are mounted to the rear portion of frame 8. A wide endless crimping band 23 of metal or other relatively strong material is mounted on sheaves 21 and 22 and-extends along and slightly above drive belt 13. A rigid flexed back-up plate 24 behind band 23 between the sheaves acts as a bearing surface which prevents band deflection during crimping. Assuming in this embodiment that a crimp from vertical to about 40 is desired, the axes of sheaves 21 and 22 and the outer crimping surface of band 23 are all inclined at 40.

Sheaves 21 and 22 may be driven through a suitable adjustable speed drive 25 from motor 15. The linear speed of band 23 should equal or approximate the peripheral container speed and the linear speed of belt 13.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 5 shows a pie pan 1 upstream from the crimping section and being transported by belts 13 and 14. As the pan rotatably enters the crimping section, its peripheral portion will be confined between angular band 23 and belt 13, whereby band 23 will forceably fold or plow flange 5 inwardly from a vertical position toward the center of the pan. See FIG. 6. The amount of the fold-over at this point will depend upon the angle of band 23. A progressive circumferential fold-over of flange 5 will occur until the pan leaves the crimping area.

It is desirable to provide a uniform crimp on the entire pan edge. For this purpose, band 23 and backup plate 24 should extend between sheaves 21 and 22 a distance sufficient to allow at least one complete revolution of pan 1 while the pan edge is crimpingly con fined.

The transverse and downward angular force applied by crimping band 23 adjacent belt 13 creates a counterforce on the opposite side of pan 1 adjacent belt 14, tending to raise or flip the opposite side up. To prevent this from occurring, an elongated longitudinal support rail 26 is mounted on frame 8 and is disposed to spacingly overlie support belt 14 so that the said opposite pan side will travel therebetween. To prevent jarring of pan 1 due to any substantial raising of the pan edge from belt 14, support rail 26 is disposed in as close proximity tothe pan as possible without interferring with its movement. To accomplish this, and as best seen in FIG. 4 and by a comparison of FIGS. 5 and 7, rail 26 is high enough at the machine entrance to accommodate a fully vertical pan flange 5, and inclines gradually downwardly in a downstream direction at least through the crimping area so that it will be relatively close to the inwardly folded flange.

Although the crimping mechanism of first stage 10 is shown as adjacent the forwardly moving pan edge, it

could be positioned adjacent the rearwardly moving pan edge (adjacent belt 14) without departing from the spirit of the invention. In this instance, the crimping belt would be reversed in direction. Also, simultaneously operating crimping bands could be disposed along both sides of the device, in which case a support rail 26 wouldnt be needed.

Furthermore, while the axial inclination of both sheaves 21 and 22 has been shown to be the same, the inclinations could differ to thus create a crimping band which is twisted slightly so that the crimping angle would continuously increase along the line. See FIG. 8.

Although the first stage of the device is designed to plow crimping flange 5 substantially inwardly, it has been found that a second stage 11 is often desirable to finally crimp the flange to horizontal lid-sealing position. This second stage could conceivably use the traveling band crimping principle disclosed above, with the band angle suitably adjusted. However, in the present embodiment, a different principle is utilized.

As best shown in FIG. 3, second stage 11 includes a continuation of bed-plate 9 and belts l3 and 14. A two point eccentric drive mechanism 27 is suitably connected to shaft 16. An elongated longitudinally extending crimping bar 28 is mounted adjacent its ends to mechanism 27 and is disposed directly above support belt 13. Actuation of mechanism 27 will cause bar 28 to move eccentrically in a vertical plane. The construction is such that the bar will be lowered onto and travel longitudinally at the same speed and direction with the pan edge and belt 13 during a portion of its eccentric movement. See FIG. 7. Each downward stroke of bar 28 will force a portion of the previously partially crimped flange 5 into final horizontal position. The length of bar 28, the frequency of its downstrokes, and the longitudinal and rotational speeds of pan movement should be co-ordinated so that the container makes at least one revolution and a complete final crimp is formed in flange 5 before the container is discharged from the second stage.

Although a unitary frame and drive system is shown for both stages 10 and 1 l, the stages could be separated into individual units without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The concepts described above are equally adaptable to a rigid foil container wherein the uppermost edge portion constituting a crimping flange is in an upright, but other than vertical position when the container is presented to the machine. For example, and as illustrated in FIG. 9 the inventive concepts may be utilized in connection with a container 29 having a wide angle uppermost crimping flange 30. This flange is frustroconical and may be outwardly inclined at about -40.

In order to fully crimp the edge of a container 29, it has been found desirable to add a preliminary stage to the two-stage machine illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 10, preliminary stage 31 is substantially identical to stage 10, except that its sheaves 32, 33 are mounted on axes which are inclined on a substantially greater angle from the horizontal than are sheaves 21 and 22. By the same token, the surface'of the metal crimping band 34 will also be at a greater angle, such as about 60. Engagement between crimping flange 30 and band 34 will cause the flange to be bent or folded from its outwardly flared position to an intermediate inwardly tapered position at about 60 from zontal. See FIG. 11.

After discharge from preliminary stage 31, container 29 would proceed through stages 10 and 11 as previ- 5 ously described.

The three-stage device of FIG. 10 is capable of handling containers having either outwardly flared or vertical crimping flanges. With the latter type flange, the containers would merely pass through the preliminary stage with a minimum amount of crimping. In addition, if a container has a basically vertical crimping flange with irregularities or distortions causing portions of the flange edge to extend outwardly, the preliminary stage will straighten these out.

Although flanges 5 and 30 are shown as having raw edges, they could have edges which are hemmed, continuous or interrupted full curled or semi-curled, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It has been found that a machine utilizing the crimping concepts of the invention can process at least 120 9 inch containers per minute.

Various modes of carrying out the invention are contemplated as being within the scope of the following claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention.

the hori- We claim:

1. In a machine for crimping the upwardly extending crimping flange of a lidded circular rigid foil container, the combination comprising:

a. means providing a longitudinal path for the container,

b. support means for receiving a plurality of randomly presented containers and for transporting each of said containers continuously along said path, a

c. said support means comprising:

1. a pair of spaced longitudinally extending belts bording said path on opposite sides thereof,

2. said belts forming means to support opposed peripheral portions of each container,

3. and means to continuously move at least one of said belts downstream along said path to effect rotation of each container simultaneously with movement of the latter along said path,

d. and crimping means disposed adjacent said path for engaging the crimping flange of each rotating longitudinally moving container and progressively circumferentially crimping the said flange radially inwardly.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lastnamed means of paragraph (c) moves both said belts in the same direction with one belt traveling faster than the other to form said container rotating means.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lastnamed means of paragraph (0) moves only one of said belts with the other belt remaining stationary to form said container rotating means.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said lastnamed means of paragraph (c) moves one of said belts in a downstream direction and the other said belt in an upstream direction, with said downstream moving belt traveling faster than said upstream moving belt to form said container rotating means.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crimping means comprises:

ing means comprises:

a. an elongated longitudinal crimping band disposed adjacent at least one of said support means and engageable with the crimping flange of said rotating container to apply an inward angular crimping pressure to progressive circumferential portions of the flange,

b. said band being of sufficient length so that the said container will make at least one revolution as it travels therealong.

6. The combination of claim 5 which includes: means 10 to move said band longitudinally of said path at a linear speed approximately the same as the peripheral speed of the adajcent container portion, and in the same direction as said portion.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crimping means comprises:

to move said band longitudinally of said path at a linear speed approximately the same as the linear speed of the said adjacent belt.

9. The combination of claim 7:

a. wherein said crimping band applies an inward and downward angular crimping pressure to the said crimping flange at one side of the container,

b. and which includes means disposed adjacent the other of said belts to prevent flip-up of the opposite side of the container.

10. The combination of claim 9 in which said lastnamed means comprises: a support rail extending along the said other of said belts and spacingly overlying the latter for passage of the container edge portion therebetween.

11. The combination of claim 10 in which said support rail is in close proximity to the said other of said belts and is inclined downwardly in a downstream direction.

12. The combination of claim 7 wherein said crimping band is endless and is twisted to provide a progressively increasing crimp action.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crimpa. a longitudinally extending crimping bar disposed above one of said moving belts,

b. and means to move said bar eccentrically in a vertical plane so that it will lower onto and travel longitudinally with the said crimping flange to crimp the latter,

0. said bar being of sufficient length so that the said container will make at least one revolution as it travels therealong.

14. The combination of claim 5:

a. wherein said crimping band is endless,

b. and wherein said band is mounted on rotatable longitudinally spaced sheaves having included axes.

15. The combination of claim 1:

a. wherein said crimping means is in at least two stages with the first stage adapted to crimp a container crimping flange from an outwardly angled position to an intermediate inward position, and

the second stage being disposed downstream from the first stage and adapted to crimp the said flange inwardly from the said intermediate position,

b. each said stage comprising:

1. an elongated longitudinal crimping band disposed adjacent at least one of said support means and engageable with the crimping flange of the said rotating container to apply in inward angular crimping pressure to progressive circumferential portions of the flange,

2. said band being of sufficient length so that the said container will make at least one revolution as it travels therealong,

c. each said band being endless and mounted on rotatable spaced sheaves having inclined axes,

d. the axes of the sheaves of the downstream stage having a different angle of inclination than the axes of the sheaves of the upstream stage.

16. In a machine for crimping the frustroconical outwardly tapering crimping flange of a lidded circular rigid foil container, the combination comprising:

a. means providing a longitudinal path for the container,

b. support means for receiving a plurality of containers and for transporting them along said path, comprising:

l. a pair of spaced longitudinally extending belts bording said path on opposite sides thereof,

2. said belts forming means to support opposed peripheral portions of each container,

3. and means to continuously move at least one of said belts downstream along said path to effect rotation of each container simultaneously with movement of the latter along said path,

0. and means disposed adjacent said path for engaging the said outwardly tapering crimping flange of each longitudinally moving container and for crimping said flange inwardly to a position at least radially inwardly from the vertical.

17. In a machine for crimping the frustoconical outwardly tapering crimping flange of a lidded circular rigid foil container, the combination comprising:

a. means providing a longitudinal path for the container,

b. support means for receiving a plurality of containers and for transporting them along said path, comprising:

1. a pair of spaced longitudinally extending belts bording said path on opposite sides thereof,

2. said belst forming means to support opposed peripheral portions of each container,

3. and means to continuously move at least one of said belts downstream along said path to effect rotation of each container simultaneously with movement of the latter along said path,

c. and means disposed adjacent said path for engaging the said outwardly tapering crimping flange of each longitudinally moving container and for crimping said flange inwardly to a position between the vertical and a horizontal lid-sealing location,

d. and means disposed adjacent said path for subsequently engaging the partially crimped flange and for crimping the latter further radially inwardly to a horizontal lid-sealing location.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,835,799 Dated September 17, 1974 Inventor(s) Carl Huth and William McCoy It is certified that error appears in the-above-identified patent s and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line 23, after "crimping", delete "fringe" and substitute "flange" Column 3, line 27, after "spaced" insert "pans" line 28, after "resolve", delete "abut" and insert "about" t C v line 56, after "of the" delete "pin" and substitute "pie" line 62, after "through a" delete "dirve" and Y substitute "drive" Column 7, line ,63, after "having" delete "included" and l V g substitute "inclined" Column8, line 52, after "2. said" delete "belst" and substitute 'belts" In the following instances Where the word "b'ording" appears in the claims, the word should be "bordering" Column 6, line 40, delete "bording" and substitute "bordering" Column 8, line 30, delete "bording" and substitute "bordering" line 51, deletef'bording" and substitute "bordering" Signed and sealed this 3rd day of December 1974.

(SEAL) 1 At test:

. McoY M. GIBSON JR. c. MARSHALL DANN v t. Assess??? 0 i'se; I A q qner 9 atent FORM po'wso Ho's-9) USCOMM-DC 6037B-P69 u.s. obvznuunrr rnm'rms omc: nu o-Su-au. 

1. In a machine for crimping the upwardly extending crimping flange of a lidded circular rigid foil container, the combination comprising: a. means providing a longitudinal path for the container, b. support means for receiving a plurality of randomly presented containers and for transporting each of said containers continuously along said path, c. said support means comprising:
 1. a pair of spaced longitudinally extending belts bording said path on opposite sides thereof,
 2. said belts forming means to support opposed peripheral portions of each contaiNer,
 3. and means to continuously move at least one of said belts downstream along said path to effect rotation of each container simultaneously with movement of the latter along said path, d. and crimping means disposed adjacent said path for engaging the crimping flange of each rotating longitudinally moving container and progressively circumferentially crimping the said flange radially inwardly.
 2. said belts forming means to support opposed peripheral portions of each contaiNer,
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said last-named means of paragraph (c) moves both said belts in the same direction with one belt traveling faster than the other to form said container rotating means.
 2. said belst forming means to support opposed peripheral portions of each container,
 2. said belts forming means to support opposed peripheral portions of each container,
 2. said band being of sufficient length so that the said container will make at least one revolution as it travels therealong, c. each said band being endless and mounted on rotatable spaced sheaves having inclined axes, d. the axes of the sheaves of the downstream stage having a different angle of inclination than the axes of the sheaves of the upstream stage.
 3. and means to continuously move at least one of said belts downstream along said path to effect rotation of each container simultaneously with movement of the latter along said path, c. and means disposed adjacent said path for engaging the said outwardly tapering crimping flange of each longitudinally moving container and for crimping said flange inwardly to a position between the vertical and a horizontal lid-sealing location, d. and means disposed adjacent said path for subsequently engaging the partially crimped flange and for crimping the latter further radially inwardly to a horizontal lid-sealing location.
 3. and means to continuously move at least one of said belts downstream along said path to effect rotation of each container simultaneously with movement of the latter along said path, c. and means disposed adjacent said path for engaging the said outwardly tapering crimping flange of each longitudinally moving container and for crimping said flange inwardly to a position at least radially inwardly from the vertical.
 3. and means to continuously move at least one of said belts downstream along said path to effect rotation of each container simultaneously with movement of the latter along said path, d. and crimping means disposed adjacent said path for engaging the crimping flange of each rotating longitudinally moving container and progressively circumferentially crimping the said flange radially inwardly.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said last-named means of paragraph (c) moves only one of said belts with the other belt remaining stationary to form said container rotating means.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein said last-named means of paragraph (c) moves one of said belts in a downstream direction and the other said belt in an upstream direction, with said downstream moving belt traveling faster than said upstream moving belt to form said container rotating means.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crimping means comprises: a. an elongated longitudinal crimping band disposed adjacent at least one of said support means and engageable with the crimping flange of said rotating container to apply an inward angular crimping pressure to progressive circumferential portions of the flange, b. said band being of sufficient length so that the said container will make at least one revolution as it travels therealong.
 6. The combination of claim 5 which includes: means to move said band longitudinally of said path at a linear speed approximately the same as the peripheral speed of the adajcent container portion, and in the same direction as said portion.
 7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crimping means comprises: a. an elongated longitudinal crimping band disposed parallel to and adjacent one of said belts and engageable with the crimping flange of the said rotating container to apply an inward angular crimping pressure to progressive circumferential portions of the flange, b. said band being of sufficient length so that the said container will make at least one revolution as it travels therealong.
 8. The combination of claim 7 which includes: means to move said band longitudinally of said path at a linear speed approximately the same as the linear speed of the said adjacent belt.
 9. The combination of claim 7: a. wherein said crimping band applies an inward and downward angular crimping pressure to the said crimping flange at one side of the container, b. and which includes means disposed adjacent the other of said belts to prevent flip-up of the opposite side of the container.
 10. The combination of claim 9 in which said last-named means comprises: a support rail extending along the said other of said belts and spacingly overlying the latter for passage of the container edge portion therebetween.
 11. The combination of claim 10 in which said support rail is in close proximity to the said other of said belts and is inclined downwardly in a downstream direction.
 12. The combination of claim 7 wherein said crimping band is endless and is twisted to provide a progressively increasing crimp action.
 13. The combination of claim 1 wherein said crimping means comprises: a. a longitudinally extending crimping bar disposed above one of said moving belts, b. and means to move said bar eccentrically in a vertical plane so that it will lower onto and travel longitudinally with the said crimping flange to crimp the latter, c. said bar being of sufficient length so that the said container will make at least one revolution as it travels therealong.
 14. The combination of claim 5: a. wherein said crimping band is endless, b. and wherein said band is mounted on rotatable longitudinally spaced sheaves having included axes.
 15. The combination of claim 1: a. wheRein said crimping means is in at least two stages with the first stage adapted to crimp a container crimping flange from an outwardly angled position to an intermediate inward position, and the second stage being disposed downstream from the first stage and adapted to crimp the said flange inwardly from the said intermediate position, b. each said stage comprising:
 16. In a machine for crimping the frustroconical outwardly tapering crimping flange of a lidded circular rigid foil container, the combination comprising: a. means providing a longitudinal path for the container, b. support means for receiving a plurality of containers and for transporting them along said path, comprising:
 17. In a machine for crimping the frustoconical outwardly tapering crimping flange of a lidded circular rigid foil container, the combination comprising: a. means providing a longitudinal path for the container, b. support means for receiving a plurality of containers and for transporting them along said path, comprising: 